The B-cell activation pathway in human systemic lupus erythematosus: Imbalancedin vitro production of lymphokines and association with serum analytical findings

Abstract

Recent knowledge of B-lymphocyte physiology has clarified the role of T cell-derived lymphokines in clonal proliferation and differentiation of B-cell responses. Lymphokine production was analyzed in 19 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and sex- and age-matched controls in relation to clinical activity and steroid treatment. Whenin vitro production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and B-cell growth factor (BCGF) was tested, both activities were found to be diminished in the group of patients (PPin vitro BCDF synthesis was positively correlated with clinical activity regardless of low-dose steroid treatment. A correlation was also found between BCDF production and the levels of IgG (r=0.64,Pr=0.52,Pr=0.7,Pin vivo B-cell function are discussed.